Reading men among those suspected of being involved in a child sex ring which operated from the 70s right up to 2009 appeared in court last week.

Paul Flynn, 29, of Bath Road in Reading, is suspected of five counts of sexual/indecent assault of a child, one rape of a child and one attempted rape of a child, while Cheshire man Tim Pittway, 48, formerly of Mermaid Close, Winnersh, is charged with one count of rape and one of indecent assault of a child.

They appeared at Winchester magistrates last Thursday and are due at Winchester Crown Court on February 10.

William Flynn, 31, of Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Jerry Lee Howe, from Accrington, Michloss Ledniczky, from Blackpool, Jenny Winchcombe, from Blackpool, Lancashire, and Andrew Hulse, from Tadley, are all charged with two counts of sexual/indecent assault on a child.

Flynn, Howe, Ledniczky and Hulse were remanded to appear at the same court next Thursday and Winchcombe was due in court again yesterday to be committed for trial.

Also accused is Basingstoke man Paul Thomas, 49, who is charged with 37 offences including 23 indecent/sexual assaults against children and two rapes of children.